The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-13
VIEWS OF DR.. DUNCAN.
EFFICIENCY OF A QUARANTINE
SYSTEM DISCUSSED,

the Line Does to Prevent the Intro
duction of Contagious and Infectious
Diseases.
SAVANNAH, GA, July u, 1887.
H. S. Haines, Esq, General Manager,
Savannah, Ga:
am in receipt of your favor of July y,
covering newspaper extracts IN reference to
quarantine matters, and asking my views
as to the efficacy of the system practiced by
the Tampa and Havana line of steamships,
in the prevention of the introduction into
this country of contagious or infectious dis
eases, and more especially yellow fever !
appreciate fully the difficulties and embsr-
easements to which that line has been sub
jected recently, to say nothing OF the unwlse
and inhuman course which was pursued
toward the inhabitants of Key West on the
occasion of the recent appearance of yellow
fever at that port, course which seems to
have been prompted by a general feeling OF
apprehension and fear of danger, which the
more prudent and. conservative medical
men were unable to allay.
It is with much satisfaction that l direct
attention to the fact that during the winter
and early spring of 1886 the owners and
managers of the line above referred to- de-
string to maintain prompt and rapid pas
senger and mail communication between
this country and the West Indies during the
summer months provided that such COM
munication could be maintained without
prejudice to the public health, and only
upon such a condition. adopted, after con-
sultation, a system Of sanitary regulations
for vessels Of this line to take effect annu-
i ally between the 10th of May and
the 1st of November, which regula-
tions were laid before the Health
sonville, and subsequently, DR.. John B.
Hamilton, Surgeon General, United States
| Marine Hospital Service, and also before the
| Florida State Medical Association, at its an
nual meeting in 1886, for such additional re-
stIIctions and precautions as in their judg-
nlent might be deemed necessary or advisa-
| BILE. The system. after some modification
by the authorities above cited, went into
practical operation in the spring of 1886,
and was continued until the lst of Novem-
Der subsequent, and during that entire sea-
son, notwithstanding the very general
prevalence of yellow fever at Havana,
not a single case of contagious or
infectious disease was introduced
by any Of the vessels of this line. 1t will
be asked very properly what does that sys-
TEN consist of, and will the faithful
observance of the system afford perfect
protection against the introduction of
yellow fever! l reply that the sys-
TEN consists substantially in a scrupulous
cleanliness of the vessels of the line, thorough
disinfection twice a week at Tampa Bay
with a solution of bi-chlor mercury and
chloride lime alternately: non-intercourse
at the port of Havana, except under proper
and safe restrictions imposed by DR.. D. M.
Burgess, Sanitary Inspector, United States
Marine Hospital Service; requirement that
all officers and crews of the line shall
be acclimated to the diseases of the tropics;
prohibition against all freight save tobacco,
and that packed in boxes; and as a prere-
quisite to securing passage from Havana,
satisfactory evidence that the applicant has
either had yellow fever or is acclimated.
In brief every known precautlon is taken
against allowing any OF the vessels
, OF the line to become infected, or
} the granting of passage TO persons
who might be probably subject to yell
low fever if exposed The regulations also
, provide for thorough disinfectiOn on the
event of case Of fever of any character oc-
J curing on board of any of the vessels Of the
line, or where there is a suspicion of any
baggage having been exposed to infection.
We are at once confronted with
the inquiry: Can these regulations
be thoroughly, honestly and systematically
enforced' | reply that they can and that
} | they are faithfully executed. | am aware
that the health authorities of American
ports generally give little credence to the
truthfulness of bills of health and certifi-
Gates, as above cited, but respectfully sub
init that the officials charged with the JIM
} pOrtant duties imposed upon them by the
sanitary regulations of thiS line are pains
taking, conscientious men, fully cognizant
of the responsibility resting upon them, and
. that they justly merit and enjoy the fullest
confidence of the owners of the line, that
every regulation will be faithfully and hon
estly observed The satisfactory experience
of the season of 1886 entities them to the
confidence of fair minded and discriminat-
: ing public.
In answer to the second inquiry: evil
the faithful observance of the system afford
perfect protection against the Introduction
of yellow feverm | reply that perfect pro-
lection against the disease cannot be OBJ
tanned except by total non-intercourse; but
that the faithful observance of the regula-
tions imposed will afford as complete immu-
nifty as can be obtained with the mainte
nance at the same time of rapid intercom-
munication. 1t may be urged as an addi-
tional precaution that every portion of
every passengers baggage should be sub
: jected TO thorough fumgation and disinfec
ton To this | reply that such procedure
will be an unnecessary imposition upon the
passengers, and if the inspecting officer at
Havana is satisfied that none Of the baggage
5 of any of the passengers has been infected.
ask where is the necessity for subjecting it to
a process for destroying what does not
exist; If, in the judgment of DR.. Burgess,
there be reasonable doubt of the condition
of the baggage Of any passengers, or a
knowledge or suspicion OF its having been
exposed to infection, the regulations provide
for the enforcement of thorough fumiga-
ton and disinfection, and all of the vessels
of the line are provided with ample con-
veniences for that purpose. The strongest
argument that can be adduced, is that bag
gage may possibly be infected, notwith-
, standing the knowledge and carefulness of
DR. Burgess; that disinfection OF the same
will be an additional safeguard and no harm
can result from subjecting it TO the process
To this l reply that Dr. Burgess, the
Inspecting Officer at Havana, if in
any doubt whatever as to the condition
E Of any passengers baggage, subjects it
promptly to thorough fumigation and disiD-
, lection. 1t might with equa, force be urged
that detention of the vessel for five or six
; days should always be imposed from the
date of departure from an infected port, so
that III the event that any passengers may
have the disease in the incubative stage, a
reasonable time should be allowed for its de-
velopment II IS hardly necessary for me
to say that the imposition of such regula-
ton would be practical prohibition against
H. 80 III